Patrick Heron held a unique position in twentieth-century art. As one of the first British artists to embrace abstraction, he introduced a post-war generation to the delights of luminous pure colour, distilling a wide range of influences to create works that convey a pure visual sensation. As a critic he produced a powerful and provocative body of writings, making a forceful case for the importance of contemporary British art. Michael McNay provides a much-needed survey of Heron's life and work, exploring his close and creative relationship with the landscape and light of Cornwall, and his long investigation into the 'colour of colour'. Heron's championing of Cornish artists makes this book an essential addition to the St. Ives Artists series.